Blaine County, Nebraska

Infobox U.S. County
county = Blaine County
state = Nebraska
founded = 1885
seat = Brewster | largest city = Dunning
area_total_sq_mi =714
area_land_sq_mi =711
area_water_sq_mi =4
area percentage = 0.50%
census yr = 2000
pop = 583
density_km2 = 032
web = www.blainecounty.ne.gov
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Blaine County is a county located in the U.S. state of Nebraska. As of 2000, the population is 583. Its county seat is Brewster.GR|6

In the Nebraska license plate system, Blaine County is represented by the prefix 86 (it had the eighty-sixth-largest number of vehicles registered in the county when the license plate system was established in 1922).

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 714 square miles (1,850 km²), of which, 711 square miles (1,841 km²) of it is land and 4 square miles (9 km²) of it (0.50%) is water.GR|1

Adjacent counties

*Loup County, Nebraska - (East)
*Custer County, Nebraska - (South)
*Logan County, Nebraska - (Southwest)
*Thomas County, Nebraska - (West)
*Cherry County, Nebraska - (Northwest)
*Brown County, Nebraska - (North)

History

Blaine County was formed in 1885. It was named after presidential candidate James G. Blaine. [ [http://www.nacone.org/webpages/counties/countywebs/blaine.htm] Retrieved on March 15, 2008.]

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 583 people, 238 households, and 168 families residing in the county. The population density was 1 people per square mile (0.32/km²). There were 333 housing units at an average density of 0 per square mile (0/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 98.97% White, 0.51% Native American, and 0.51% from two or more races. 0.17% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 45.1% were of German, 12.2% English, 10.2% Irish and 8.4% American ancestry according to Census 2000.

There were 238 households out of which 30.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.00% were married couples living together, 2.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.00% were non-families. 26.90% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 2.98.

In the county the population was spread out with 26.20% under the age of 18, 3.90% from 18 to 24, 26.60% from 25 to 44, 26.40% from 45 to 64, and 16.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 101.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $25,278, and the median income for a family was $28,472. Males had a median income of $17,917 versus $20,000 for females. The per capita income for the county was $12,323. About 18.70% of families and 19.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.70% of those under age 18 and 9.40% of those age 65 or over.

More than 25% of the population belong to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, a notable statistic because no other county in the state -- or in any state further east in the U.S. -- exceeds 10%. [http://www.valpo.edu/geomet/pics/geo200/religion/mormon.gif]

Villages and unincorporated community

*Brewster
*Dunning
*Halsey (partial)
*Purdum

References